Clinical Manifestations Onset Characteristically, RA is a chronic polyarthritis. In approximately two-thirds of patients, it begins insidiously with fatigue, anorexia, generalized weakness, and vague musculoskeletal symptoms until the appearance of synovitis becomes apparent. This prodrome may persist for weeks or months and defy diagnosis. Specific symptoms usually appear gradually as several joints, especially those of […]
Clinical Course and Prognosis The course of RA is quite variable and difficult to predict in an individual patient. The current therapeutic approach of early aggressive intervention appears to have mitigated the clinical course of RA, resulting in less persistent inflammation, disability, joint damage, and mortality. Classically, most patients had experienced persistent but fluctuating disease […]